Pedal of foot-propelled bicycles



March 21, 1939. R`. J. PENNY ET A1. i I* 2,151,144.

PEDAL' OF FOOT-PROPELLED BICYCLES Filed Jan. .2, 1937 Patented Mar. 21, 1939 .PEDAL or mor-Pacman -arcrcuis athen :am Penny, smug, south aum-mu,

and Horace James Worthington, South Australia, Australia Berna ruk,-

spplicatlon January 2,. 1937, serial No. 11am 1 0mm. '(cl. ss-sn Our invention relates to improvements in and oonnectedlwith pedals for foot-propelled bicycles.

Hitherto the provision of lighting for bicycles of the, foot-propelled type has proved unsatisfac- 5 tory and` numerous accidents have been rightly :tributed to the ineiliciency of illuminating deces. 1

. 'Ihe object oi' this invention is to overcome the danger arising from bad lighting, by providing the pedals with a constantly oscillating illuminating device which traverses a circular path upon a pedal crank and is of such a nature that it will become a conspicuous object when a bicycle is being propelled at night; such device being easily discernible by motorists and others carrying lights when a bicycle Ihaving pedals fitted with our device is approached trom the front. or when being overtaken from the rear or the side.

For the purpose oi our invention we construct and nt each pedal of the bicycle with a supporting frame hereinafter referred to as a container which is adapted to support a multi-facetted or prismatic translucent panel in such a manner that light rays from the lamps of an approaching vehicle will be received at varying angles and will be lashed back in ever changing rays at diil'erent ang es.

In order that our invention may be more clearly understood we will now describe the same by aid of the accompanying illustrative drawing wherein:

' Fig. 1 is van end view of our invention showing one-half` oi' the pedal in section with a 'lower container added thereto.

Fig. 2 illustrates a container made of metal or other suitable composition ot material adapted to receive a multi-facetted glass.

Fig. 3 is a plan ot a pedal according to the 40 invention in part section.

In each of the illustrations similar letters of reference are used to denote similar or corresponding parts wherever they goccur, and the word container is used to denote a frame or attachment whereby a reflector isw mounted upon or attached to .a bicycle pedal.

In-thedrawingaisasplndle ofanordinary pedal. v

y Two transverse frame bars are mounted rolo tatably on said spindle adjacent the ends thereof. the bar vb' at the inner end oi' the spindle Y, having a length greater than that of the bar b1l at the outer end of the Spindle. Two longitudinal frame bars b are disposed parallel to said spindleAv and secured to the inner transverse bar b' at As shown in Fig. l, the device comprisesv a double trame c* and c5 which is attached to the pedal longitudinal containers c is mounted in between points short of the ends of the latter and to the y extremities of the outer transversebar b3. The longitudinal bars b project outwardly beyond the outer transverse bar l1a and the spindle end and terminate in transversely and outwardly bent 5 flanges b4 to form casings with the projecting ends of the inner transverse bar b'. A container cfor a translucent reflecting panel is mounted in each of said ca sings by means of tongues c' projecting through suitable apertures in the transl0 verse bar b' and the transverse anges b4. The container c may be serrated along its edges as indicated at c2 in Figure 2. A similar transverse container I)2 of smaller size than the the portions oi the longitudinal bars b projecting beyond the spindle end. The container b2 is profvided with ilanges b overlapping the transverse ilanges b4 and being attached thereto by means of the tongues c' projecting through apertures in the anges b5 registering with the above mentioned apertures in the flanges br'.

Within each container, there is mounted a translucent reflector preferably of glass d the outer edge of which may be formed with a convex surface df whilst the opposite or inner surface is characterised by a number oi facets, d2 which are preferably of prlsmatic construction.

The contour of the outer surface may be varied according to requirements. 'I'he facets are in close proximity to the door of the container if the container is constructed as a recessed panel as illustrated, or it may receive a lining of tinsel i or the like (not illustrated in the drawing) or the oor of the container may receive a coating of suitable paint to'reduce any\ei!ect of absorption of light by the surrounding metal or other material.

This construction ailords ample support for the outer end of the spindle a and also provides a 40 relatively large transverse container for a multifacetted glass member substantially similar to but shorter than the members indicated at d.

spindle a by a connecting element such as a metal clip or a suspender 1 and the double frame Jwhich is supported thereby is fitted with two plates of facetted glass similar to and correspondl. ing in direction with the facetted glasses on the front and rear pedal bars rst described.

What we claim is: l A bicycle pedal. comprising a pedal spindle. two transverse frame bars mounted rotatably on 11o and terminating in transversely and outwardly memes A bent to form casings with the projecting ends of said inner transverse bar, a container for a truinslueent reflecting panel mounted in each of said casings, and a similar transverse container l of smaller sise mounted in'between the portions of said longitudinal bars projecting beyond the spindle end and seemed to said transverse end ROBERT JOHN (PENNY. HORACE JAMES WORTHINGTON. 

